a bang problem

[faller49]

stock 1994 explorer 4x4 auto..

this is when it happens the most

when I pull into a driveway, store parking lot..etc and come to a stop there is a big bang.. it appears to be on front drivers side. then when you go to back out of parking spot it well bang again.. It does not ever do it a driving speeds and the tires are close to time to rotate but are wearing perfectly..
I have looked ..pulled and pryed but cannot find out what is doing it..

all ideas short of dynamite appreciated

 

[vq5speed]

Sounds like your Radius Arm bushing needs replacing.

 

[faller49]

They looked good but I weil give them a closer eyeball... Thanks for the reply and help..

 

[natenkiki2004]

Calipers, brake pads, anti-rattle clips, radius arm bushings, ball joints, axle bushings...

Many things can cause it. Your best bet is to look around the suspension for any wear marks. Orange dust or clean areas from parts slipping. I know a couple of my issues were related to pads moving, sway bar bushings and ball joints.

Push on the car, side to side and then up and down to see if you can get it to do the same. If you get nothing then park facing up an incline, put chocks under the front tires and let off all the brakes slowly until you've rolled back as far as it goes then put the emergency brake on. That should "open" whatever joint is loose so you can easily see it.

 

[RangerX]

My first thought was also radius arm bushings. Did you look on the back side, the side you can't see in the above pic?

Although, people usually describe the bad bushing sound as a clunk. A bang could be an auto hub going bad?

 

[Albino 94LTD]

If the radius arm bushings have been replaced at one time or another, the radius arm bolts on the beam could be loose enough for the beam to rotate a little causing a bang.

The bolts have a massive torque setting like 400ft lbs. I use the handle off my high-lift jack over the open of a combination wrench and brace my feet against a tire to put my back into tightening that sucker.

 

[faller49]

I don't think it is anything to do with the brakes or really the steering directly because while it is a loud bang ,you cannot feel it through the pedals or steering wheel..
I am NOT a mechanic, but I have been doing most of my own repairs for 40 years and usually sort things out by feel and/or diagnostics but so far this one is getting my goat.
I will check things as advised. ( when it lets up on the rain)

 

[pkn]

They looked good but I weil give them a closer eyeball...

When my radius arms bushings went bad, I was not able to just "see" them being bad, no matter how hard I looked. I had to use floor jack to push the radius arm up to actually see it's movement relative to the bracket.

I can't remember was it with the track just sitting still on the ground (front suspension under load), or was the front end jacked up (front suspension released "hanging")... but I remember I couldn't move the radius arm by hand, had to use floor jack.

 

[thunderhorse]

Just to be sure dose a 94 have 4X4 auto?? My 92 had 2WD; 4WD high and low. I'm thinking it is case bind. Dose a 1994 Explorer have 4X4 auto??

 

[Gadget X]

Just to be sure dose a 94 have 4X4 auto?? My 92 had 2WD; 4WD high and low. I'm thinking it is case bind. Dose a 1994 Explorer have 4X4 auto??

The 94 could have auto or manual hubs, but the transfer case is 2 high, 4 high, and 4 low, no auto 4x4 option.

 

[jd4242]

Lol I believe he was just saying it a 4x4 and a auto..meaning ""auto""transmission


But I agree about not always seeing the RA problems. .on mine it wasn't the bushings that was bad but the hole in the crossmember that the arm when threw. .it was no longer a round hole..

 

[faller49]

yes automatic transmission not auto 4X4

 

[swshawaii]

Slip yoke/joint?
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106307

 

[the_don]

radius arm bracket to frame bolts?